Sub menu

Blizzard to hit northeast overnight; impact from Boston to NYC

The worst of the storm should hit the Northeast over night, reports AccuWeather.

AccuWeather Global Weather Center — 2 January 2014 —AccuWeather.com reports a major snowstorm is sweeping across the Midwest and Northeast Thursday, creating treacherous travel conditions for millions in Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit and Cleveland.

The worst of the storm will arrive overnight for the Northeast, bringing blizzard conditions from Boston to New York with wind gusts as high as 50 mph.

In some locations, snow will fall at a rate of 2 inches per hour.

Drivers can expect slowed travel as blowing and drifting of snow occurs across major roadways, such as I-90 and I-95 and visibility lowers.

The storm also has the potential to cause flight delays in major travel hubs including Boston-Logan International, La Guardia International and JFK International airports.

All times reported in EST

2:05 p.m. EST Thursday: 15 inches of snow reported in Palatine, Ill., according to a National Weather Service employee.

2:01 p.m. EST Thursday: Detroit Metro Airport is now reporting delays due to snow and ice.

1:40 p.m. EST Thursday: Northwestern Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York will experience the worst of the storm over the next 2 to 3 hours, according to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. “Snow is becoming heavier in this area and temperatures are hovering in the teens. Looks like a slow, slippery drive on I-80, I-79, and the Southern Tier Expressway of N.Y.”

12:31 p.m. EST Thursday: As many as 6 inches of snow have fallen across parts of Indiana. Photo below from Indianapolis:

12:10 p.m. EST Thursday: Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has declared a snow emergency and parking ban for the city as of 12:00 p.m. EST. All Boston public schools will be closed Friday, Jan. 3.

11:50 a.m. EST Thursday: The New York Department of Transportation reports Interstates 81, 86, 88, 90, 390 and 481 to be snow- and ice-covered. Conditions are not considered severe at this time.

11:25 a.m. EST Thursday: A trained spotter reports that 7.5 inches of snow have fallen across Barry County, Mich. Though the snow has tapered to flurries, significant drifting is occurring.

11:01 a.m. EST Thursday: Snow has buried major routes across Chicago, including I-80, as seen below:

10:50 a.m. EST Thursday: Delayed reported of a car accident with one injury and one fatality on Highway 11 in Knox County, Ky. Law enforcement reports the accident was a result of slick roadways due to freezing rain.

10:40 a.m. EST Thursday: A National Weather Service employee reports 5 inches of snow in Fayette County, Ind.

9:41 a.m. EST Thursday: Delays due to snow, ice and low visibility being reported at Chicago O’Hare International and Chicago Midway airports.

9:09 a.m. EST Thursday: 13 inches of snow recorded in Cook County, Ill., according to the National Weather Service.

8:01 a.m. EST Thursday: Interstate highways in Collinsville, Effingham and Champaign, Ill., are 100 percent snow- and ice-covered, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Interstate highways in Lincoln, Quincy and Springfield are at least 75 percent snow- and ice-covered.

7:20 a.m. EST Thursday: So far, 4.8 inches of snow recorded at Indianapolis International Airport, the National Weather Service reports.